Lantern



May 17, 1932. RA. CURRIE ET AL LANTERN Filed Octl8, 1929 Patented May 17, 1 932 ETED- STATES PATENT FFlCE I i ROBERT A. GURRIE AN D FRANK N. THIEL, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORk, ASSIGNORS TO B. DIETZ COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION LANTERN Application filed October 18, 1929. Serial No. 400,564.

This invention relates to lanterns, and particularly to the control of the air currents therein. l/Vhen lantersare used in the open,

they are subjected to wind conditions of very ing character andintensity and from varying W directions, and when alantern is used for si nal purposes, such as a'railway signal lantern, it is further subjectedto a great variation in the character and-direction of the air currents whichaifect the operation -of the lantern, the varying air currents on the exterior of the lantern having a tendency to unbalance the normal air currentsfwithin the lantern and I cause serious flickering or extinctionof the flame, with the result that provision must be made to avoid such disturbance of the normal air currents within a lantern if a dependable, uniform, continuous and unflickering light is to be obtained. This problem is particularly important when such lanterns utilize keroseneas a fuel, for the reason that the flames from kerosene fuel are more sensitive to unbalanced orfluctuating air currents than are burners utilizing signal oil as a fuel.

An object of this invention is to generally improve lanterns for exterior use, and to increase'their dependability and steadiness. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lantern which will produce a uniform and steady lightunder all atmospheric conditions likely to be encountered and independently of the direction'or changes in direction of air currents striking the lantern and of the character of manipulations which may be given the burning lantern in use, such as in railway signaling; which will operate successfully with a steady and uniform light under all operating conditions while burning kerosene or other fuels; which will be small and compact, of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and attractive in ap-,

pearance. 1

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims. 7

. In the accompanying drawings? to Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a lantern constructed in accordance with the invention; and J v Fig. 2 is a bottom, sectional plan of'the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 2.2 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the lantern is of the railroad signal type having the usualbase 1 which mounts the oil font 2. The usual or any suitable guard 3 is connected to the base 1 so as to provide a support for the base and lantern, andfto pro tect the usualtransparent globe i which may be removably mounted upon a globe seat 5 of the base 1. j

A dome 6 is connected to the upper end of the frame 3 in any suitable manner,.usua1ly and preferably by hinging the dome at one side,to the frame, so'that the dome may be lifted or moved from the top of the frame in order that access may be had toithe globe 4 and oil font 2 for removal'or cleaning pur-.

poses. V i

The lower end of the dome is open and may be surrounded by an outwardly and down wardly extending flange, breast or skirt 7 by which the dome may be connected to the frame3. The upper part of the dome is pro-, vided with a plurality of apertures 8.through which the spent gases or gases of combustion may escape. The lantern maybe carried about or swung in signalling by means of a bail 9 suitably connected at its ends to cars 10 attached to the frame 3 at diametrically opposite points. I

A globe holder 11 is fitted over the upper open end of the globe 4 and exerts a. downward pressure thereonto confine the globe to itsseat 5. The holder 11 is urged yieldingly. in a downward direction for this purpose by a helical spring 12 acting between the topof the dome and the upper end of the holder 11. The lower end of the spring which engages with the upper end of the holder 11 may be provided with a terminal straight bar 13, which extends diametrically across the longitudinal axis of the spring and through suitable apertures in the upper part of the holder, so as to provide thereby a limit bar, the function of which will be explained presently.

A spring strip 14 is secured at one end to the top of the dome 6, and depends centrally therefrom beyond the cross or limit bar 13 into the upper end-of the holder 11. The spring 14 has a hooked loop 15 adjacent its lower or free end, as usual in lanterns of this type, which engages with the bar13 when the lantern is assembled, as shown in Fig. 1. WVhen the dome is in closed position on the frame and the globe 4is confined to its seat 5 by the holder 11, the spring 12 willbe under compression and the limit bar 13 will be well above the bottom end of, but within the loop 15, so that the spring 12 will releasably and yieldingly confine the holder 11 against the upper end of the globe 4 and exert a downward pressure thereon.

When the dome 6 is lifted or moved so as to release the globe for cleaning or replacement, or to permit access to be had to the burner and oil font, it will be noted that during the first upward movement of the dome, the spring 12 will urge the holder 11 against the'globe until the limit bar 13 is engaged by the bottom end of the loop 15, and thereafter the holder will be lifted and moved with the dome, thus releasing the globe 4. If it is desired to remove the holder 11, the latter is first moved upwardly into the dome until the bar 13 is carried out of the loop 15. The free end of the spring 14is then shifted laterally so as to clear the bar 13, after which the holder can be completely removed from the dome.

The improved holder 11 comprises a tubular ringlike member having an annular chamber 16 between the inner wall 17 and the outer Wall 18. In the illustrated example, the inner wall 17 at its lower end is flanged and connected to the inner periphery of an an nular ring 19 which forms the seat of the holder that rests upon the upper end edgeof the globe 4. This ring 19 is provided with a plurality of openings 20 arranged around the same, just within the inner wall of the globe 4.

The outer wall 18 at its lower end is connected to the outer periphery of the annular ring 19, and also depends somewhat beyond the same to provide a flange 21 which fits over the outer face of the globe at its upper end and prevents displacement of the holder on the globe. The upper ends of the inner and outer walls 17 and 18 are connected together such as by a top wall 22, and this wall extends outwardly and downwardly as a flange 23.

The outer wall 18 isspaced materially from the inner wall of the dome and the skirt 7, so that air may enter the lower, end of the dome from beneath the skirt and pass upwardly along the outer wall 18 in the space between the holder 11 and the dome. The flange 23 may extend into close proximity to the inner surface of the dome, so as to keep the holder 11 properly centered in the dome and to divide the interior of the dome into upper and lower chambers.

The flange 23 therefore prevents the passage of any material amount of spent or flue gases from the upper part of the dome downwardly into the space between the holder and the dome for a purpose which will appear presently. The outer wall 18, adjacent its upper end is provided with a plurality of apertures 24 which may be arranged in two rows, with the apertures of each row staggered from those of the other row, the rows being spaced apart vertically as shown in Fig. 1. The flange 23 may extend downwardly over the upper row of apertures as indicated in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it will be observe that the holder 11 not only confines the globe to its seat on the base 1, but also provides a central passage communicating with the cen tral part of the globe for conveying away the spent gases or gasesof combustion, such gases being discharged into the upper part'of the dome where they escape into the air through the apertures or passages 8. I have found that by making the inner wall 17 frusto-conical or upwardly converging or tapered, the movement of flue or spent gases is very greatly facilitated and a more stable balance of the air currents obtained.

Air for combustion purposes and to provide for a down draft which is almost always, if not always, found in every chimney construction, enters the dome from beneath the skirt 7 and passes upwardly in the space between the holder 11 and the d0me,this upward movement being limited by the flange 23. Such air may enterthe annular chamber 16 of the holder 11 through the apertures 24, then descend in the chamber 16 and be discharged in a downward direction through the openings 20 along the inner face of the globe 4.

This air then settles to the bottom of the globe 4 along the outer surface thereof, then passes to the burner, and any portion thereof unused in combustion rises with the spent gases and passes upwardly through the tapered flue in the holder 11 into the upper part of the dome where it escapes into the air. Additional air may, if desired and especially in signal lanterns, also be admitted through apertures 25in the base 1, into a chamber 26 surrounding the upper part of the font. Air from this chamber 26 may reach the interior of the globe through an annular row of apertures 27.

I It will be especially noted that the apertures 24 in the globe holder 11 are located inside of the top dome where they are not directly accessible to natural winds or air currents, or those caused by signal motions. Any air currents which do pass upwardly between the globe holder and dome from beneath the skirt 7 will be checked by the flange 23, and thus rushesof air or currents into or thru the dome and which tend to increase the draft through-the flue passage of the holder will be checked.

The upwardly moving air currents in the space between the dome and the holder may enter the annular chamber 16 and then descend therethrough into the globe 4, thus suifering a complete reversal of direction of travel with loss of kinetic energy, so that the air which does reach the inside of the globe 4 will not ha-vea high velocity and cause flickering of the flame or unbalance the air currents in the globe.

The annular chamber '16 also serves as an equalizing chamber, so that if the air pressure on one side of the lantern should be greater than on the other side, such as may occur when the lantern is placed in a high velocity current of air coming from one side, the air entering one side of the chamber faster than the other side will spread out in the chamber 16 and equalize, and be uniform. ly distributed before being discharged from the lower end of the chamber.

This supply of air appears to be uniform and regular regardless of whether the lantern is swung upwardly and downwardly, or laterally, and by actual testsof such a lantern the flame produced is of uniform in tensity, unfiickering and stable, regardless of the manipulations of the lantern or of the velocity or direction of air currents to which the lantern is subjected.

The supply of air through the chamber 16 relieves the central flue and the top of the lantern from supplying the down-draft cure rent of air to the inside of the globe which is believed to exist or be essential in every chimney construction, andv therefore there will be an unrestricted flow of spent gases through the upper part of the dome, this movement of the flue gasesrbeing aided by the frusto-conical or upwardly tapering chimney or flue passage through the holder 11.

It will be noted that the outer apertures 24 are above the lower or inner openings 20, which insures a reversal of direction of travel of the air entering the annular chamber 16. It will also be noted that the air entering the top of the globe is admitted so near the chimney flue that there is very little call upon the chimney flue to furnish any down current of air.

Lanterns constructed in accordance with this invention, by extensive tests under entremely dillicult operating condit ons,'liave shown that the air currents within. the lantern are always especially well balanced and uniform and that the flame issteady and difficult to extinguish, under all atmospheric conditions. T It will be obvious that various changes in the details, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. v

Claims:

1. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, a globe holder extending up lnto and movable vertically in said dome and engaging with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means in said dome confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having an annular bottom wall fitting over the upper end of the globe, with a flange engaging with the globe to keep the globe and holder alined when in contact, said annular bottom wall of the holder ere tending inwardly in a radial direction. for a short distance from the globe, said holder also having inner and outer spaced walls connected to the inner and outer} eriphery of said bottom wall and a top wall connecting the upper ends the inner and outer walls to provide a ring-like chamber between the inner and outer walls, said bottomiwall of the I holder having apertures arranged at intervals entirely around the same, the outer wall of the holder having apertures arranged peripherally around the same in the portion enclosed in the dome,- whereby air may enter said globe by first entering said dome, then said chamber and then descending through the chamber, through the bottom wall thereof, into said globe, in a downward direction along the inner wall of the globe, whereby'a uniform down draft of air may be provided within said globe substantially free from varying air currents outside of the globe.

2. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, a globe holder extending up into and movable vertically in said dome and engaging with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means in said dome confining said holder releasably in engagementwith the globe, said holder having an annular bottom wall fitting over the upper end of the globe,

with a flange engaging with the globe to keep the globe. and holder alined when in contact, sald annular bottom wall of the holder en tending inwardly in a radial direction for a said globe by first entering said dome, then said chamber, and then descending through the chamber, through the bottom wall thereof, into said globe, in a downward direction along the inner wall of the globe, whereby a uniform down draft of air may be provided within said globe substantially free from varying air currents outside of the globe,

the outer lateral wall of said globe holder being spaced somewhat from said dome, and said globe holder having a flange above the apertures in the outer lateral wall extending into proximity to the inner periphery of the dome, so as to divide the interior of the dome into an upper spend gas flue and a sop and lower air supply channel. and to prei but material lateral movement of the holder in the dome.

3. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, a globe holder extending up into and movable vertically in said dome and engaging with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means in said dome confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having an annular bottom wall fitting over the upper end of the globe, with a flange engaging with the globe to keep the globe and holder alined when in contact, said annular bottom wall of the holder extending inwardly in a radial direction for a short distance from the globe, said holder also having inner and outer spaced walls connected to the inner and outer periphery of said bottom wall and a top wall connecting the upper ends of the inner and outer walls to provide a ringlike chamber between the inner and outer walls, said bottom wall of the holder having apertures arranged at intervals entirely around the same, the outer wall of the holder having apertures arranged peripherally around the same in the portion enclosed in the dome, whereby air may enter said globe by first entering said dome, then said chamber, and tnen descending through the chamber, through the bottom wall thereof, into said globe, in a downward direction along the inner wall of the globe, whereby a uniform down draft of air may be provided within said globe substantially free from varying air currents outside of the globe, the inner wall of said globe holder being upwardly convergent so as to facilitate the movement of the gases of combustion.

4. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, a globe holder extending up into and movable vertically in said dome and engaging with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means in said dome confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having an annular bottom wall fitting over the upper end of the globe, with a flange engaging with the globe to keep the globe and holder alined when in contact, said annular bottom wall of the holder extending inwardly in a radial direction for a short distance from the globe, said holder also having inner and outer spaced walls connectedto the inner and outer periphery of said bottom wall and a top Wall connecting the upper ends of the inner and outer walls to rovide a rin -like chamber between the inner and outer walls, said bottom wall of the holder having apertures arranged at intervals entirely around the same, the outer wall of the holder having apertures arranged peripherally around the same in the portion enclosed in the dome, whereby air may enter said globe by first entering said dome, then said chamber, and then descending through the chamber, through the bottom wall thereof, into said globe, in a downward direction along the inner wall of the globe, whereby a uniform down draft of air may be provided within said globe substantially free from varying air currents outside of the globe, the lateral wall of the globe holder being spaced materially from said dome and the top wall of the holder extending outwardly as a flange into close proximity to the dome, between the upper and lower ends of the dome, so as to prevent the mixture of unused air in the lower portion of the dome, with the gases of combustion in the upper uort-ion of the dome, and to prevent material lateral movement of the holder in the dome.

5. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, the dome having its lower end open and surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly extending peripheral skirt. a globe holder extending well up into the lower end of the dome, moveable vertically therein, and engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means for confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having a flue passage from end to end and also a closed an-- nular chamber surrounding said flue passage, and whose outer wall is spaced from said dome, said chamber having openings in its bottom for discharging air therefrom in a downward direction along the inner face of the globe, said holder also having apertures peripherally around the same, and at a level above said openings, connecting said annular chamber with the interior of said dome at a point above said skirt, whereby air may enter said dome from beneath said skirt, pass into said chamber thru said apertures, then descend in the chamber, and be discharged in a downward direction into said globe, the upper part of said dome being apertured to permit escape of flue gases passing thru said holder, the dome being substantially imperforate below the upper perforations in said holder.

6. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, the dome having its lower end open and surround-ed by an outwardly and downwardly extending peripheral skirt,

a globe holder extending well up into the lower end of the dome, movable vertically therein, and engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means for confining said holder rel-easably in engagement with the globe, said holder having a flue passage from end to end and also a closed annular chamber surrounding said fiue passage, and whose outer wall is spaced from said dome, said chamber having openings in its bottom for discharging air therefrom in a downward direction along the inner face of the globe, said holder also having apertures peripherally around the same, and at a level above said openings, connecting said annular chamber with the interior of said dome at a point above said skirt, whereby air may enter said dome from beneath said skirt, pass into said chamber thru said apertures, then descend in the chamber, and be discharged in a downward direction into said globe, the upper part of said dome being aperture-d to permit escape of flue gases passing thru said holder, the dome being substantially imperforate below the upper perforations in said holder, said holder also having a flange extending into proximity to the inner pee riphery of the dome above said apertures in the holder for preventing mixture of the flue gases in the upper part of the dome with air entering from beneath the skirt.

7. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome,the dome having its lower end open and surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly extending peripheral skirt, a globe holder extending well into the lower end of the dome, movable vertically therein, and engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means for confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having an upwardly cenverging, tapered flue passage from end to end and a closed annular chamber surrounding the flue passage, said chamber having openings in its bottom for discharging air therefrom in a downward direction along the inner face of the globe, and also having apertures peripherally around the same and above said openings, connecting said annular chamber with the interior of said dome at a point above said skirt, said holder being spaced from said dome downwardly from said apertures, whereby air may enter said annular chamber from beneath said skirt, enter said chamber, descend therein and pass into said globe, in a downward direction, the upper part of said dome having passages through which flue gases reaching the same may escape.

8. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, the dome having its lower end open and surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt, a globe holder extending well up into the lower end of the dome and engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said seat, means for confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having a flue passage from end to end and a closed annular chamber surrounding the flue passage, said chamberhaving 'openings in its bottom for discharging airtherefrom in a downward direction along the inner face of the globe, said holder also having apertures peripherally around the same connecting said annular chamber with the interior of said dome ata point above said skirt, the portion of said holder below said apertures being spaced from said dome, whereby air may enter said dome from beneath said skirt, then enter said'chamber thru said apertures, descend therein and pass downwardly into said globe, said dome having in its upper partpassages through which flue gases reach ing the same from the flue passage of the holder may escape, said holder also having a flange extending into proximity to the inner periphery of the dome above said apertures for preventing mixture of the flue gases in the upper part of the dome with the air entering from beneath the skirt.

9. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, the dome having passage in its upper part for the escape of gases, a globe, a globe holder resting upon the upper open end of the globe and confining it to its seat and extending upwardly into the dome for a material distance, said holder having a frusto-conical inner wall, a bottom wall extending outwardly from the lower and larger end of said frusto-conical wall with apertures from face to face thereof arranged at intervals around said frusto-conical inner wall, an outer wall extending upwardly from the outer periphery of the bottom wall in spaced relation to the inner wall of said dome, and a top wall connecting the upper ends of the inner and outer walls to provide an annular closed channel surrounding the tapered inner wall, said outer wall having a row of apertures adjacentits upper end and well within the dome, whereby air may enter the annular chamber from beneath the dome and descend through the chamber and enter the globe.

10. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and adome, the dome having passage in its upper part for the escape of gases, a globe, a globe holder resting upon the upper open end of the globe and confining it to its seat and extending'upwardly into the dome for a material distance, said holder having a frusto-conical inner wall, a bottom wall extending outwardly from the lower and largerend of said frusto-conical wall with apertures from face to face thereof arranged at intervals around said frusto-conical inner wall, an outer wall extending upwardly from the outer periphery of the bottom wall in spaced relation to the inner wall of said dome, and a top wall connecting the upper ends of the inner and outer walls to-provide an annular closed channel surrounding tapered in ner wall, said outer wall having a row'of apertures adjacent its upper end and well within the dome, whereby air may enter the annular chamber from beneath the dome and descend through the chamber and enter the globe, said top wall extending outwardly as a flange from the outer wall into proximity to the inner periphery of the dome, so as 'to' prevent the descent of any material portion of flue gases from the upper part of the dome into the annular chamber, and means in said dome for confining said holder releasably to said globe.

11. In a lantern, a frame having a dome, a globe holder within, and movable vertically separately from said dome, and having an annular globe seat with depending flange around the outer periphery of the seat and a row of apertures around the seat adjacent the inner periphery of the globe, in ner and outer walls rising from said seat and connected together at their upper ends to form an annular chamber between said walls, the outer wall adjacent its upper end having a peripheral row of apertures, and a flange extending outwardly and downwardly in spaced relation to the apertures, the inner wall of said holder being upwardly convergent to facilitate the passage of fine gases therethrough.

12. In a lantern, a frame having a dome, a globe holder within the dome, movable vertically therein, and comprising a frustoconical ring, an annular ring secured to the larger base end of said ring so as to extend outwardly therefrom and form an annular globeengaging seat, a second ring surrounding and spaced from said annular ring and depending beyond the same to form a flange surrounding the upper end of the globe, and a top wall connecting the upper ends of the two rings to provide an annular chamber between two rings, said annular ring having a row of apertures around and adjacent the lower end of the inner frusto-conical ring, and the outer ring having a peripheral row of apertures adjacent its upper end.

13. In a lantern, a frame hav' ig a dome, a globe holder within the dome, movable vertically therein, and comprising a frustoconical ring, an annular ring secured to the larger base end of said ring so as to extend outwardly therefrom and form an annular globe engaging seat, a second ring surrounding and spaced from said annular ring and depending beyond the same to form a flange surrounding the upper end of the globe, and a top wall connecting the upper ends of the two rings to provide an annular chamber between two rings, said annular ring having a row of apertures around and adjacent the lower end of the inner frusto-conical ring, and the outer ring having a peripheral. row of apertures adjacent its upper end, said top wall extending outwardly beyond the outer ring and then downwardly in a direction towards the opposite end of the outer ring and spaced therefrom, to partially shield the apertures in the outer-ring.

14. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, open at its lower end a globe, a globe holder movable vertically in the lower part of said dome and having at its lower end a seat engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said frame seat, means in said dome for confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having a central vertical passage for conveying flue gases from the globe into the upper part of the dome, and a closed annular chamber around said vertical passage with inwardly and outwardly opening apertures, the outwardly opening apertures bein materially above the inwardly opening apertures and within the dome well above the open lower end thereof, said holder being spaced peripherally from said dome in a direction downwardly from said outwardly opening apertures whereby air may enter said chamber from the lower end of said dome.

15. In a lantern, a frame having a globe seat and a dome, a globe, a globe holder movable vertically in said dome and having at its lower end a seat engageable with said globe to confine the globe to said frame seat, means in said dome for confining said holder releasably in engagement with the globe, said holder having central vertical passage for conveying flue gases from the globe into the upper part of the dome, and a closed annular chamber around said vertical passage with inwardly and outwardly opening apertures, the outwardly opening apertures opening into the dome and being materially above the inwardly opening apertures. The section of said holder above the apertures into said chamber from the dome having a peripheral part extending into close proximity to the inner face of the dome, and the section of said holder below said apertures from the dome into said chamber being spaced from the dome to enable air to reach those apertures from the lower end of said dome.

ROBERT A. CURRIE. FRANK N. THIEL. 

